The Napa Silverados Baseball Club of the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs made some personnel announcements on Thursday prior to the start of its 2018 inaugural season.

Team President Bruce Johnston will assume the duties of general manager, Napa resident Megan Castellucci has become the team’s first assistant general manager, and Tito Fuentes Jr. will work in sponsorship and advertising sales before transitioning to become the team’s first manager in the spring.

“The first announcement is that I will assume the role of general manager of the club, as I was unable to identify the right candidate for the position,” Johnston said. “We are looking to get a lot done prior to the start of the season, and I felt it important that we have someone in that position now. I was only able to consider this move if I could identify someone with the skills and experience in all aspects of operating an independent league minor league baseball team to assist me. I am very fortunate that Megan has agreed to join the team in that capacity.”

Castellucci is not a newcomer to the Pacific Association of Professional Baseball Clubs. Last season, she was the first woman to serve as an assistant general manager for the league, holding the office for the San Rafael Pacifics. She oversaw team operations, including player housing and contract management. She also assisted the president and general manager with business operations, the community affairs programs, sales and marketing, and day of game operations.

Castellucci spent the 2016 season in Major League Baseball with the Oakland Athletics, serving as the community relations intern. She assisted with the activation and implementation of community outreach initiatives and also contributed to the planning and execution of various A’s Community Fund projects and events. She has also worked in collegiate athletics at the Division I level, overseeing ticket and game day operations for the Cal State Fullerton Titans.

Castellucci has a bachelor’s degree in communications with and emphasis in public relations from Fullerton. She has also completed her master’s degree in sports management from the University of San Francisco.

For the Silverados, she will oversee team operations as well as the host family program and stadium operations. She will also assist the general manager with business operations and the marketing efforts of the club.

“I’m very thankful to Bruce for this exciting opportunity,” Castellucci said. “This is a special organization, and to be back in my hometown, with this team, is an adventure I am very excited for. I am very humbled to be in Napa and in assuming this new role with Napa’s first professional baseball team, and to be a part of bringing fun, affordable family entertainment to my hometown.”

Fuentes will have responsibility for all aspects of the team, including scouting, recruiting, training and managing the club on a daily basis.

“Tito is very well-known locally and has a lot of personal ties to the community as he and his wife Alma operated the Pueblo House restaurant here in Napa for many years,” Johnston said. “In addition to his business experience, he also comes from a very rich baseball background, having played, scouted and coached in the minor leagues as well as having operated baseball academies both in the U.S. and Dominican Republic. He has been extremely helpful to me in working my way through the process of evaluating baseball talent, as well as opening doors with potential sponsors and advertisers.”

Fuentes and Johnston met last year during a league-wide tryout in Pittsburg and began discussing the possibility of teaming up together.

“I am excited and honored to be a part of the Silverados Baseball Family,” Fuentes said. “I am so thrilled about managing the team in my hometown of Napa. It has been a great experience so far, reaching out in the community and being very well received. I am also excited about working with Megan, she is already bringing great energy to the group. She did a fantastic job with the San Rafael Pacifics and I expect she will do the same with the Silverados. I look forward to a productive season and building a team Napa can be proud of.”

His father, Tito Fuentes Sr., is a former San Francisco Giants infielder and currently works as a broadcaster for the Giants.

“I am ecstatic to have both Megan and Tito on board with me,” Johnston added. “They both have strong ties to the Napa community and they both bring the kind of energy and experience I need to create a strong organization focused toward quality baseball and a terrific fan experience.”

The Silverados will play their inaugural and future seasons at Napa Valley College starting in June, with their 40-home game season ending in late August. They are currently finalizing their agreement with NVC and resolving issues with the new bleachers they will install there. They are looking to add about 475 new bleacher seats, and 60 to 100 “club” seats in two separate ground-level areas with chairs and tables for those seeking a fan experience closer to the action on the field. Once the bleacher arrangements are completed, season ticket packages will go on sale.

Other improvements will include a children’s play area and a concession area with food and beverages for the fans.